Asian stocks rose Thursday after
Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said the bank would hike interest rates
gradually to fight inflation, though oil marched higher as the Ukraine
conflict continues to roil energy markets.

With the Russian invasion of its neighbour hammering all assets across the
board as uncertainty reigns supreme, traders were given a much-needed shaft
of light on Wednesday when the Fed boss eased concerns over its plans for
tightening policy.

Powell told lawmakers he was in favour of a moderate pace of rate
increases, with a 25-basis-point lift this month, as he tries to nurture the
economic recovery while keeping a lid on prices, which are rising at their
fastest pace in 40 years.

He warned that the “near-term effects on the US economy of the invasion of
Ukraine, the ongoing war, the sanctions, and of events to come, remain highly
uncertain”.

The comments soothed concerns that officials could announce an aggressive
50-basis-point lift. The issue of Fed tightening has cast a pall over markets
for months, bringing a near two-year rally to an abrupt end, and that has now
been compounded by the Ukraine crisis.

Powell did, however, say the bank would remain “nimble” to events and would
act more aggressively if needed down the line.

Meanwhile, St. Louis Fed chief James Bullard said he was for a “rapid
withdrawal of policy accommodation”, as Chicago president Charles Evans added
that policy was currently “wrong-footed” and should be tightened.

Still, Powell’s comments were able to “appease risk-markets by ruling out a
50 basis-points hike in March, while simultaneously promising inflation
vigilance at following meetings”, said Citigroup strategists William
O’Donnell and Edward Acton.

Wall Street ended sharply higher with all three main indexes more than one
percent up.

And Asia followed suit with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul and
Singapore leading healthy gains.

But analysts warned of further volatility for some time as the war
continues to rage in Ukraine.

While the war is making finance chiefs re-think their plans, central banks
appear intent to keep on the tightening track for now, with the Bank of
Canada on Wednesday announcing a rate rise.

The major source of angst for policy-setters is the spike in oil prices,
which has been a key driver of inflation this year owing to narrow supplies
and soaring demand and is now being amplified by the conflict in Europe. On
Thursday Brent continued to storm higher, hitting $118 a barrel for the first
time since early 2013.

While world governments have not included Russian oil in their wide-ranging
sanctions on Moscow owing to concerns about the impact on prices and
consumers, trade has become increasingly tough as banks pull financing and
shipping costs rise.

OPEC and other major producers, including Russia, refused Wednesday to lift
output by more than their previously agreed amount, dealing a blow to hopes
of an easing in supply pressures.

An agreement by the United States and 29 other countries to release 60
million barrels from their reserves has had little impact on the relentless
rise in prices.

Other commodities are also elevated with European natural gas benchmarks
and aluminium at records.

– Key figures around 0230 GMT –

Brent North Sea crude: UP 2.7 percent at $115.95 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.2 percent at $112.97 per barrel

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.8 percent at 26,608.21 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.7 percent at 22,493.03

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3491.82

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1108 from $1.1126 late Wednesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3394 from $1.3405

Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.91 pence from 82.95 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 115.62 yen from 115.51 yen

New York – Dow: UP 1.8 percent at 33,891.35 (close)

London – FTSE 100: UP 1.4 percent at 7,429.56 (close)